Littlest Pet Shop Digital Electronic Interactive Organizer Pink

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: All kinds of fun activities and sounds keep kids and their pets happy The Bad: Small stylus may be tricky for little hands to get used to In a Nutshell: Interactive and engaging toy combined with an electronic organizer At a Glance Ages: 6 and older

The organizer offers an easy-to-use touch screen. View larger.

The stylus is decorated with a fun pet charm. View Larger.

The park is a good place to start having fun. There are 14 different games and activities to keep your child and her pet entertained. Each one lasts 60 seconds. Aim to pop the most balloons as they go by, or get competitive by playing fetch and tetherball. Touch the sign in the park to see the latest high scores.

When your pet needs a change of pace, head to the shop and pick out shoes, tops, wigs, and accessories for a pet photo shoot. Leading your pet all the way through the store can be a little tricky at first, but it gets easier with just a little practice. Once her pet is dressed, your child can pick out a favorite background and save up to four photos. Back in pet's room, one of these photos can be displayed on the wall. And don't forget to feed your pet, who is sure to be hungry after all those activities.

Practical Applications
Since your little girl will want to take her pet everywhere she goes, it's convenient that the unit doubles as a calculator, an address book with space for keeping tabs on new friends' birthdays, and a calendar that spans from now until December 31, 2010. You can even set fun icons to appear on special dates. A full keypad that works with the stylus pen makes adding notes easy.

Parents will appreciate the way this organizer encourages responsibility and planning ahead, as well as the fact that it's easy to turn off the Pet Shop's sound effects. While the pink plastic case seems quite durable, rough play could take a toll on the touch screen over time, so you may want to emphasize the fact that gentle pressure is just as effective as pressing hard on the screen and keypad.

As long as you and your child are prepared to spend some time exploring your new pet's world, and you're not put off by the simple graphics on this unit's gray screen, this digital pet is sure to provide hours of fun. And the organizer ensures that your child will find new ways to make use of this toy as she grows.

What's in the Box
Digital pet/organizer, stylus, and three AAA batteries.